Damon's Mound (c, 2, Girvin–San Antonio Stroll, by Stroll), a jaw-dropping 12 1/2-length debut winner at Churchill Downs July 2, is targeting the GII Saratoga Special S. at the Spa Aug. 13.
“That's the goal, he's doing great,” former jockey-turned-trainer Michelle Lovell said from her summer base at Colonial Downs. “We've got some weeks to go, so, hopefully all goes good. As long as he's doing great, he deserves the opportunity.”
Does he ever.
Off as the well-backed, third choice at 4-1 in his unveiling, Damon's Mound was off to a slow start from post four in the 11-horse field. He made very quick progress, however, to track under a nice hold in a four-wide fifth through a sharp opening quarter in :21.84.
The handsome bay cruised up four deep beneath Gabriel Saez approaching the quarter pole, gained control in effortless fashion as they straightened and put on a show beneath the Twin Spires to stop the timer for six furlongs in 1:09.84 in 'TDN Rising Star' fashion.
Damon's Mound earned a very strong 84 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.
“I was in awe of watching him do it,” Lovell said. “We had high hopes that he'd run great, but it really was a special performance from him. It was great to share it with my crew and his owners. Obviously, he brought a lot of attention to himself.”
She continued, “He's always been wonderful training and has done everything perfectly. The only thing we were lacking was him being sharp away from the gates. Hopefully, he learns a little bit more from the race.”
Members of the press aren't the only ones who have been blowing up Lovell's cell phone since Damon's Mound's smashing debut victory.
“There was a high demand for him within minutes of him crossing the wire,” Lovell said. “They haven't stopped asking [if he's for sale], but it's slowed down now because we've said no to so many people. Obviously, when he won, I was thrilled and I was elated how he did it. But soon after, I realized that I may not be training him for his second race. So, it was a roller coaster ride from when he hit the wire. His owners are super. They're excited and want to run their horse.”
Damon's Mound is a homebred for Cliff and Michele Love. The Florida-bred is the first foal out of their multiple stakes-placed mare San Antonio Stroll (Stroll). He is one of five winners for quick-starting freshman sire Girvin (Tale of Ekati). Damon's Mound is the first horse that Lovell has trained for the Texas-based couple.
“His grandparents lived in Texas and that's a place where Mr. Love spent a lot of time with his cousins when he was a child,” Lovell said of Damon's Mound's namesake. “It was a special place for him as a child.”
Lovell began training in 2003 and enjoyed a career-best year in earnings with $1,872,883 in 2021, led by standout sprinters MGSW Change of Control (Fed Biz) and MSW & MGSP Just Might (Justin Phillip). Lovell co-owns and co-bred the latter, an earner of $958,100. She currently trains 30 head, a number she is quite content with.
“We've had a great couple of years,” Lovell said. “One of the reasons why Mr. and Mrs. Love chose me to train, I believe, was right after Just Might won a race for me. Not only did he win seven stakes last year, some wonderful people called me up and said, 'I've got a 2-year-old coming your way if you have empty stalls.'”
She concluded, “It's great obviously to have him in the barn–there's a lot of buzz. He's just super talented and special. It's really fun.”
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